What is the difference between a play and a film? I shall perhaps be a little simplistic in my answer, but bear with me. Firstly, there is only one performance of a film - supposedly a perfect one, captured for everyone to see. Secondly, you can control the environment within which you watch the film. Thirdly, the play is two dimensional, where film can be three. Fourthly, music and movement play a far more predominant part in film. Fifthly, and perhaps most importantly, special effects and props in film are far more advanced than they are for theatre. Anything else? We might note that films are usually shorter than plays, and come without an intermission (except a few rare ones). Plays are limited in space, and also the amount of actors/characters they can have - at least, a lot more limited than film.
These are all quite structural and formal differences, but my main aim is to examine our (or my) expectations when we see a film. Specifically, why do I think Closer is probably a better play than a film? Because of the limitations of the stage we allow the action and the drama to be limited to dialogue and the emotional interactions of the characters. We do no expect much more than to 'hear'. The 'seeing' part of a play is quite limited. When we go to a film, however, the 'seeing' part is extended. There will indeed be large tracts than involve no dialogue at all, but music and vision. This is rarely possible in theatre, again because of the spatial limitations. In Closer the director did give us contemporary London locations, which was great, but there was never much movement. It lacked the fluidity we expect from film. It was just a Harold Pinter drama, but not as good, and without the pauses. It was a series of scenes of people talking. While this does occasionally work, the dialogue has to be exceptional. It wasn't.
I haven't really covered this thoroughly enough, but I've definitely gone on too long. All this has made me think, however, of the differences between novels and films, and how I often do think 'this was probably a good novel' at the end of an adapted movie. Perhaps another post is due on this issue too...
